Sometimes reminders need to be more forceful.
“Hong Kong’s Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) announced to its residents that they will break the law if they post abusive and derogatory remarks on the Internet against typhoon victims in the Philippines,” reports ABS-CBNnews.com.
The report quoted the EOC’s press statement, which reiterated that “it is unlawful for a person, by any activity in public, to incite hatred towards, serious contempt for, or severe ridicule of, another person or members of a class of persons on the ground of their race.” The EOC made the statement because they were alerted that some people in Hong Kong had made abusive and derogatory in relation to the Typhoon Yolanda disaster.
Apparently, the comments section of one Hong Kong-based news website, the South China Morning Post, contained numerous comments slamming the Philippines’ “alleged ingratitude” about mainland China’s US$100,000 donation for the typhoon victims.
This morning however, Nov 14, The Wall Street Journal has reported that “China is now planning to send a total of 10 million yuan (USD1.64 million) in relief supplies.”
This new controversy developed right after Hong Kong lawmakers said they will push through with the implementation of economic sanctions against the Philippines even if it’s still reeling from the Yolanda aftermath. Hong Kong and the Philippines are still in a tense situation due to the 2010 Manila bus hostage tragedy, which left eight Hong Kong tourists dead. Hong Kong has demanded an apology from the Philippines. President Noynoy Aquino has not issued any official apology, as he said that the country can’t be held accountable for the actions of hostage taker Rolando Mendoza.
Nevertheless, Hong Kong’s move to curb anti-Philippine sentiment is commendable.
Photo from MorgueFile
